Rep. Eddie Washington

Designates March 12, 2009 as "World Kidney Day" in the State of Illinois.

Amends the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change concerning submission of the State budget.

Congratulates the North Chicago High School boys basketball team, the Warhawks, on becoming the 2009 Class 3A Sectional champions.

Congratulates the members of the Waukegan Park District Allstars Special Recreation Basketball Team for the team's second place finish at the Special Olympics of Illinois State Tournament.

Congratulates the Waukegan High School boys basketball team, the Bulldogs, on winning second place in the Illinois High School Association Class 4A Tournament.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that persons under 18 years of age (rather than under 17 years of age) who commit offenses are subject to the proceedings under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 for delinquent minors. Effective January 1, 2010.

Amends the State Finance Act. Creates a non-appropriated Fund, the Minority Film Support Fund, to be administered by the State Treasurer to help collateralize loans from financial institutions to minority film makers producing films or building or maintaining minority film and television studios when the institution's credit standards would not otherwise be met.

Amends the Respite Program Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning eligibility.

Creates the Homeowners' Solar Energy Act. Provides that no bylaw or action of a homeowners' association, property owners' association, or a condominium unit owners' association shall prohibit or be interpreted to prohibit a solar energy system or other energy device based on a renewable resource. Provides that no deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting a solar energy system or other renewable resource energy device from being installed on residential dwelling property that does not exceed 3 stories. Provides that an owners' association may determine the location of a solar energy system. Provides that solar energy systems shall be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) or another nationally recognized certification entity. Provides that an application for the installation of a solar energy system shall be processed and approved as an application for architectural modification and shall not be willfully avoided or delayed. Provides that any entity, other than a public entity, that willfully violates this Act shall be liable to the applicant or other party adversely affected for actual damages. Provides that in any litigation under this Act, the prevailing party is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees. Provides that the legislative purpose of this Act is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by encouraging the use of renewable resource energy systems to conserve and protect land and resources and prevent measures which will drive the cost of owning residential property beyond the capacity of private owners.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a committed person who is at least 50 years of age and who has served at least 25 consecutive years of imprisonment in a Department of Corrections institution or facility and is serving a sentence other than death may petition the circuit court for an elderly sentence adjustment. Provides the contents of such petition and establishes criteria that the court shall use to determine whether the committed person shall be granted an elderly sentence adjustment. Provides that the court shall consider the petition in its entirety and may not order the release of the committed person if the court finds that the committed person poses a threat to public safety. Provides that if the court determines that a committed person is eligible for an elderly sentence adjustment and determines that the committed person should receive a sentence adjustment, the court shall set the conditions for the committed person's release from prison before the expiration of the committed person's sentence imposed by the sentencing court. Provides for notification of the families of victims if a petition for elderly sentence adjustment is filed. Provides that the Department of Corrections shall develop a pilot program patterned after the Impact of Crime on Victims Class (ICVC), including the Restorative Justice segment, used by the Missouri Department of Corrections. Provides that the pilot program shall be implemented in one maximum security prison for women and one maximum security prison for men. Provides that the ICVC shall be made available to prisoners eligible for elderly sentence adjustment on a voluntary basis.